Improved fiber for flax,, hemp



v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH BURGESS, OF ROYERS FORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED FIBER FOR FLAX, HEMP, 80C.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 41,275, dated January 19, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH Bonenss, of Royers Ford, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have discovered a new fiber suitable for textile purposes, being the ultimate fiber of flax, hemp, and other fiber-yielding plants; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, and of the mode of producing the same.

The flax, hemp, or other fibrous materials which are to be subjected to the disintegrating or cottonizing process should first be well cleansed, by any suitable machine, from the shive or the outer cuticle and inner Woody substance. The materials thus cleaned are then subjected to the action of caustic alkali under a suitable steam-pressure, which may be done in various modes, of which I have found the following to be the best. The heckled flax, hemp, or other material may be cut into suitable lengths by any convenient machine. I do not, however, confine myself to the use of the material thus cut, but prefer it for convenience. This material should be placed in a boiler (I prefer that known as Keens patent bojler?) and subjected to the action of canstic alkali at a pressure equivalent to a temperature of 280, and upward. The strength of thecausticalkali solution may varyfrom about one-quarter of a pound to a pound of sodaash or its equivalent of potash in the state of a caustic solution to one pound of raw material, the quantity of alkali depending on the character and age of the material operated upon. For retted flax, the best proportion is about three-quarters of a pound of alkali to the pound of flax. Care must be taken to keep the mass of fiber submerged in the alkaline solution. After the boiler has been charged it should be heated by any convenient mode till the desired pressure is obtained, at which it is to be kept for about one hour, When the dischargevalve of the boiler should be opened and the whole contents blown out, while the boiler is under pressure, into a suitable receiver. The alkaline solution is then drained 01f from the fibrous mass, and may be evaporated, burned, and again used for the same purpose. The fibrous mass is washed with hot water till all traces of alkaline solution are removed. It is thenin a fit state for bleaching, and may be bleached in the usual mode The disintegrated or cottonized and bleached fiber, after being washed and dried, will be found in suitable condition to be Wrought into textile fabrics by well-known machinery.

If it is deemed advisable to obtain the fiber in its natural length, the following process may be used: The heckled flax is to be loosely formed into banks and placed lightly but regularly into cases or cylinders formed of iron wire of suitable strength. These cases or cylinders should then be placed one upon another in a suitable boiler of an upright form, having a man-hole at the upper end. Caustic alkali of a strength proportionate to the character of the material, as hereinbefore indicated, should then be introduced into the boiler, so as to cover the cases or cylinders. The man-head may be fitted and the boiler heated by any convenient mode, and the heat should be raised to the desired pressure, as hereiubefore described.

The mode of exposing the material to the action of alkaline solutions in cases or cylinders is not a part of my invention, as it has been heretofore used. The material may also be laid directly in the boiler on a perforated false bottom; but I prefer to adopt the inner cases, as being more convenient.

When the boiling of the material is completed the alkaline solution may be removed by gently flowing it out of the boiler by means of a cock at its lower end. When it is removed hot water should be showered on the fibrous mass till the alkaline solution is entirely removed. The cases may then be lifted out of the boiler, the fibrous material removed and placed in a suitable percolating-tank and bleached by means of weak solutions of bleach-liquid passed through it. \Vhen bleachedit should be washed by percolation and dried, when it is fit for the operations of machinery.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A fiber suitable for textile purposes, made from hemp,flax, and other fiber-yielding plants by boiling them in an alkaline solution under pressure, substantially as described.

HUGH BURGESS. ,Witn esses:

A. B. STOUGHTON, EDM. F. BROWN. 

